NATALIE THOMPSON
On Sunday 9 September Tuks 1 ladies faced TUT for the Northerns Cup title. After a long season, the Tuks ladies came out on top, winning the final 5-3.
Tuks started the match with a two-goal deficit, meaning TUT were two goals up right from the start of the match. Tuks had to score three goals in order to win the match.
Tuks scored their first goal within the first five minutes of the match. With TUT struggling to gain possession of the ball, Tuks kept attacking, drawing the entire TUT squad into the Tuks scoring half.
TUT’s game plan seemed to be flicking the ball over the midfield players to their forwards. However, with Tuks being strong in defence, this gave the TUT team more problems than opportunities. With 11 minutes remaining in the first half, Tuks scored the equalising goal. TUT replied with a goal of their own. Tuks managed to score another equaliser with two minutes of the first half left, making the score 3-3 going into half time.
At the start of the second half both teams adopted a more aggressive style of play. This proved to be a good tactic and Tuks ladies scored their fourth goal. Tuks scored their final goal off a short corner and ran out deserving winners with a score of 5-3. Despite starting with the two-goal deficit, Tuks were unmistakably in control for most of the match.
Tuks 1 coach Craig Fulton was pleased with his team’s performance: “In the cup situation it is always good not to concede, so it’s great that we scored before we conceded. We did it with a positive mindset and it’s a great reward after a long season.”
Photo: Brad Donald
